It was a banner afternoon on the cross-country trail for Central Heights as the junior varsity and middle school squads turned heads at the Prairie View Invitational. Showing both late-race grit and plenty of endurance, the Vikings brought home 10 individual medals, celebrated two race victories, set seven personal records, and captured a thrilling one-point team championship.
Middle School Boys Edge Louisburg for Team Title
The action opened with an instant classic in the 7th-grade boys’ two-mile race. Teammates Brody Burkdoll and Wyatt Moon surged well clear of the competition and spent the final straightaway locked in a dead heat. The pair crossed the finish line in an identical clock time of 13:16.24, with Burkdoll taking first and Moon securing second.
Behind the frontrunners, the rest of the Vikings packed the chute to keep the team score low. Deacon Bures, Calan Dunbar, and Brody Kratzberg all registered the fastest two-mile marks of their young careers. That collective effort proved essential, allowing Central Heights to edge out Louisburg by a razor-thin single point (32 team points) to claim the team title.
On the girls’ side, Kenzli Mason crushed her previous career mark, dropping nearly 45 seconds to post a 16:58.47.
Hughes Breaks 14-Minute Barrier; Smith Surges Late
In the 8th-grade girls’ division, Emery Hughes entered the race with a clear target: break the 14-minute barrier across two miles. Hughes ran with absolute authority, breaking away from the pack early and cruising to an individual gold medal. Her personal-record time of 13:58.89 put her almost 30 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
Teammate McKinley Smith also capped her afternoon in dramatic fashion. Fed by the energy of the cheering crowd down the home stretch, Smith shaved nearly 20 seconds off her personal best to earn an 8th-place finish at 15:59.15.
JV Squad Defies Tough Conditions
Central Heights athletes faced rising afternoon temperatures and stagnant air during the high school junior varsity races, but the results remained stellar.
The JV boys placed three runners among the top seven, spearheaded by Gabriel Carmack-Roberts taking third overall in 22:07.70. For Carmack-Roberts, the bronze-medal performance carries extra weight: he underwent major surgery just over seven months ago. His steady return to form and team-first mindset provided a spark of inspiration across the entire camp. Ramsey Moore took sixth place with a career-best 23:20.30, while Cristian Duran locked down seventh in 24:04.83.
In the JV girls’ race, Mackenzie Macy and Rilya Lickteig pushed through the heat to secure back-to-back medal positions, taking 8th and 9th place, respectively.
Looking Ahead
With the varsity lineup gearing up for elite regional competition at the Rim Rock Invitational on Saturday, Central Heights now turns its attention to defending its home turf.
The Vikings host their annual home meet on Thursday, October 1. Racing is scheduled to get underway at 3:50 p.m. on the course located just east of the school. Community members and Viking fans are encouraged to line the path and pack the stands to cheer on the runners.
Central Heights Results at Prairie View
High School JV (5K)
- 3rd: Gabriel Carmack-Roberts – 22:07.70
- 6th: Ramsey Moore – 23:20.30 (PR)
- 7th: Cristian Duran – 24:04.83
- 8th: Mackenzie Macy – 28:39.48
- 9th: Rilya Lickteig – 29:32.69
8th Grade Girls (2 Miles)
- 1st: Emery Hughes – 13:58.89 (PR)
- 8th: McKinley Smith – 15:59.15 (PR)
7th Grade Boys & Girls (2 Miles)
- Team: 1st Place – Central Heights Boys (32 pts)
- 1st: Brody Burkdoll – 13:16.24
- 2nd: Wyatt Moon – 13:16.24 (SB)
- 6th: Deacon Bures – 14:10.29 (PR)
- 12th: Calan Dunbar – 14:33.71 (PR)
- 16th: Brody Kratzberg – 15:11.23 (PR)
- 18th: Kenzli Mason – 16:58.47 (PR)
(* = Medalist | PR = Personal Record | SB = Season Best)*
